Thirty-six-speed head



D. C. KLAUSMEYER ET AL June 1o, 1930.

THIRTY-sx SPEED HEAD Filed Maron 28', 1925 Patented June 10, 1930 UNrra ar` DAVID C. KLAUSMEYEE AND HENRY M. NORBJIS, OF OINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE CINCINNATI BICKFORD TOOL COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A. CORPORA- TION OF OHIO THIRTY-SIX-SPEED HEAD This invention relates to radial drilling and tapping machines and it deals more particularly with means to rotate the tool spindle journaled in the tool-head, adjustably supported on the radial arm. These spindles are adapted to carry various types and sizes of tools, such as drills and taps oi varying diameters, and inasmuch as each ot these tools requires a different speed ot rotation Jfor maximum etliciency it is essential that means be provided for regulating the speed of rotation of the spindle.

Heretotore this has usually been accomplished by providing, adjacent the prime mover, and remote from the drill-head, a speed-change mechanism, (hereinafter called the speed-box) adapted to provide a plurality of speeds, usually six, which were `transmitted to a shaftjournaled lengthwise ot the radial arm. These six speeds were usually multiplied by tour by another speedchange mechanism, commonly known as lthe back gears, which were located in the toolhead and operatively connected with the toolspindle. IThus by manipulation of both et the speed-change mechanisms any one oi' twenty-tour speeds selectively could be secured in the tool-spindle from a single speed in the prime mover. The dierences in ratio aiorded by, the speed box are necessarily small since there is considerable mechanism actuated thereby and great differences in ratio would elect abrupt changes and cause strains that would be detrimental to the parts. Inasmuch as only the spindle is actuated by the back-gears the speed-changes provided therein may be materially greater than those provided by the speed-box.

To ei'iect a predetermined speed in the spindle it has heretofore been necessary for the operator first, by the manipulation of certain control levers carried by the tool-head, to shift the back-gears and thereby obtain the nearest approximate speed obtainable therein, and second, to leave his position at his work and go to the opposite end ot the machine where, by manipulation oi the speed-box control-lever, he effected the finer and more accurate speed setting. This remote location of the ner speed changes renders their frequent adjustment inconvenient and bothersome and therefore the tendency or" the operator is tok ignore the finer speed settings and to rely on the nearest speed obtainable in the back-gears, which he may shift from his position at his work. This employment of improper spindle speeds necessarily results in loss ot eliiciency and is likely to prove detrimental to the tool should too Vgreat a speed be employedV This invention has :tor an object to provide improved means, located wholly within the drill-head, 'for selectively rotating the tool-spindle at any one ot a greater number ot speeds than has heretofore been provided by both lthe speed-box and the back-gears.

More specitically stated,this invention has for an object to provide, within the tool-head, three independent serially arranged speedchange mechanisms each adapted to multiply the speeds produced by the preceding speed change mechanism, or mechanisms, by means ot which any one of thirty-six speeds selectively maybe produced in the tool-spindle from a single speed in the arm shaft.

Another object ot this invention is to provide an improved driving connection between the spindle and its driving' sleeve and between the sleeve and its actuating gear unit whereby a balanced drive in the spindle is secured, twist in the spindle is eliminated and the parts may be more freely translated, when under heavy pressure, than in prior constructions.

These objects have been attained by embodying in a radial drill head three speedchange mechanisms namely primary, secondary and tetiary change gear-sets affording respectively three, three and tour speed changes, which, multiplied together, render available thirty-six speeds in the spindle from a single speed in the arm shaft. These gear-sets are so constructed and arranged that only ltour gear or clutch units are required to be shifted to produce all of the thirty-six speeds and these units are adapted to be shifted by suitable levers carried by the tool-head where they are all readily accessible to the opera-tor when stationed at his work.

The tool-spindle is translatably carried by a spindle-driving sleeve rotatably journaled in the drill-head and a clutch member splined to the sleeve serves to transmit rotation to the sleeve and spindle at any one of the thirty-six available speeds. To effect a balanced drive of the spindle the spindle and sleeve are preferably connected together by means of four equally spaced ways cut in the spindle, which are engaged by splines formed on the inner surface of the sleeve. This provision and location of the four driving connections between the sleeve and spindle gives a greater spline area and so evenly distributes the power applied to the spindle that the spindle is maintained freely translatable in the sleeve even when great power is being transmitted. Also the four splines engage the ways in the spindle only adjacent the lowermost bearing for the sleeve thereby applying the power to the spindle at a point nearer to the tool than heretofore and eliminating a certain amount of distortion in the spindle which also has prevented free translation of the spindle.

The outer Surface of the spindle driving sleeve also is formed with four equally spaced splines by means of which the final power transmitting clutch-element is slidably secured to the sleeve.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with the annexed drawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereof that they may embody the same in the various ways contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which F 1 is a sectional development showing the improved speed-regulating mechanism connecting the horizontal arm shaft of a radial drill with the tool spindle (all of this mechanism being embodied in the tool-head).

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

F ig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the How of power through the three serially arranged speed-change mechanisms.

Referring to Fig. t the scheme of the present improved spindle rotating mechanism will be understood. Power is introduced into the tool-head by means of a single speed shaft P, (which in practice preferably is the horizontal shaft journaled lengthwise of the radial arm). This shaft is connected, as by means of bevel gears indicated atXto a driven shaft 1. A primary speed change mechanism A comprising gears a, b, 0, (Z, f and g and a clutch element e may selectively be engaged as indicated in Fig. 4, to transmit to a shaft 2 any one of three speeds from a single speed in the shaft 1. A second speed change mechanism B comprising gears c, ZL, e', j, L', Z, and clutch elements j and Z triple the three speeds transmitted thereto and produce nine speeds in a shaft 3. A third speed change mechanism C connects the shaft 3 with a spindle rotating sleeve 5 and multiplies by four the nine speeds of the shaft 3 into thirty-six speeds in the sleeve 5 and the spindle S driven thereby. The four trains of mechanism for multiplying t-he nine speeds delivered to the mechanism C comprise 1st ,ugears m, n, 0, j), shaft 4t, gears g, r and clutch elements s and t. 2nd gears m, a, and o and clutch element fv. 3rd ,-clutch elements e0, a', gears Z2, 0, and clutch elements o. 4th;-clutch element e0, fr, shaft 4, gears g, r and clutch elements s and t. Thus it will be seen that by means of three independent serially arranged speed change mechanisms A, B and C, all of which are carried by the tool-head, the single speed in the shafts P and 1 is multiplied into thirtysix speeds in the spindle S.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1 the mechanism for selectively securing any one of the thirtysix speeds will be more clearly understood. The power shaft P carries two bevel gears (of which only one (6) is shown) which mesh with diametrically opposite sides of a similar gear 7 fixed upon a vertical shaft 1 j ournaled in bearings 8 and 9 supported by the tool-head. Splined to the shaft l is a gear unit 10, adapted to be shifted axially of the shaft 1 by a suitable gear shifting lever (not shown) carried by the toolhead. This gear unit provides gears a and Z) adapted selectively' to be meshed with gears c' and Z keyed to a shaft 2, also journaled in the tool-head, as by bearings 11 and 12. A gearunit 13 is rotatably ournaled on a bushing 14 coaxial with the shaft 1. The gear unit 13 provides a clutch element e, adapted to be engaged by the gear and a gear 7, permanently in mesh with a gear gf, fixed upon the shaft 2. The gears a, c, CZ, f and f/ and the clutch element e, constitute the primary speed change mechanism A hereinbefore referred to (see Fig. t) which delivers three speeds to the shaft 2 from a single speed in the shaft 1.

The second speed-change n'iechanism B, which triples the speeds in the shaft 2, comprises gears L, c and 7c fixed to the shaft 2, which are adapted to drive gears t', j and Z, respectively, carried by a shaft 3 journaled in bearings 15 and 16 carried by the toolhead. The gears z' and y7' constitute a gearunit 17 splined to the shaft 3 and adapted to be shifted thereon by a suitable lever carried by the tool-head. The gear Z is loosely journaled on a bushing 18, coaxial with the shaft 3, and is formed with a clutch element Z adapted, in a certain position of the gear unit 17, to engage a similar clutch-element j on said gear-unit', thereby to establish a drivlOl) ing connectioubetween the gear Z and the shaft 3. 1 f

,The nine speeds-in the shaft 3 are multiplied by four bythe third speed-change mechanism C, usually lnown as the back-gears, now to be described. Upon the shaft 3 is splined a shiftable gear-unit 19 formed with a gear mand a clutch element w. The'clutch'- element is adapted to be brought into drivingV engagement with a clutch-element formed ina member 20 fixed upon a shaft 4 journaled in the tool-head with its axiin line with the axis lof the shaft 3. rShe shaft i carries a gear g which is adapted to transmit slow rotary motion to the sleeve 5 and spindle S through its connection with a large gear 1, provided by a gear-member 21, loosely journaled coaxial with said sleeve and adapted to be secured thereto by means of a clutch element 8. rlhis clutch element designed to be engaged by a. clutch element t provided by a clutch member 22 splined to the sleeve 5. The sleeve 5 is journaled in vbearings 25 and 26 carried by the tool-head,

a portion of which is indicated at Q?, nuts threaded upon opposite ends of the sleeve engage the bearings Q5 and 9.6 and prevent endwise movement of the sleeve in t1 e tool-head. Slow motion may also be transmitted from the Vgear-unit 19 by meshing the gear m thereof with a gear n forming a part of a gear unit 23 looselyjournaled on a bushing la surrounding the spindle. The gear unit 28 also provides agear o permanently in mesh with a gear p, provided by the member Q0. `With the gears on and n in mesh power from `the gear-unit QSthroiigh gears 0 and p to the member 2O and thence through shaft 1i, .gears'g and r and clutches s and t to the spindle driving sleeve The clutch member 22 also provides a clutch element v adapted, in the lowermost position of the member, to engage the gear 0 and thus receive motion from the-gear-unit 19, either through clutch members vw and and gears p and 0, or gears m, n and o.

As hereinbefore stated this invention provides improved means for so rotating the spindle driving sleeve and the spindle -translatably mounted therein that a balanced drive is eected and the parts may be more easily shifted, when transmitting great powe than in prior constructions. To that end the sleeve 5 is formed on its outer surface intermediate its ends, with four equally spaced splines 28, adapted to lit within ways29 formed in the inner periphery of the clutch member 22. The sleeve 5 is also formed on its inner surface, adjacent its lower end, with four equally spaced splines 30 fitted within spline ways 3l formed in the spindle S. lt is to be noted that the sleeve 5 is of substantial size and well adapted to withstand the torsional strains to which it is subjected. Also that the splines 30 engage the spindle 5 within thev bearin'gZB `and at the-nearestpossible point tothe tool-carrying end of the spindle. 'By means ofthis construction the power to rotate the' sleeve and-spindlel is'divided and applied-equally to 'four sides of the sleeve and spindle, thus producing a balanced drive anc reducing the friction vbetween the splines'L and their cooperating ways. Furthermore this construction pr cludes twisting of the spindle during the drilling loperation thereby the spline ways are maintained in perfect alignment with the splines and the parts are' free to be translated to effect the feed ofthe Vtool into the work.V

vFrom the `foregoing it will be perceived that thereghas been provided anew and improved power transmission, wholly embodied within the tool-head, whereby a greater va'- riety of spindle speeds is rendered available, and by means of which the operator `may em'- ploy any available speed without leaving his position at his work. v

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so `fully reveal the gist ofthis invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one orniore of; the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be. comprehendedV within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus revealed this invention, we`

claim-as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States l. ln a radialdrill head, a speed control.- ling mechanism combining a power shaft; first, second, and third driven shafts; a spindie; serially arranged primary, secondary and tertiary gear sets carried by the head and adapted to transmit to said spindle a plurality of speeds from a single speed in said power shaft, said secondary gearA setcomprising three rotatable and non-translatable driving gears supported by said second shaft, one rotatable and non-translatable driven gear journaled coaxial with said third shaft and two driven gears splined to said third shaft, said driven gears being'complemental to said driving gears, and being adapted selectively to be rotated thereby; a clutch device between said translatable and non-translatable driven gears operatively to connect said non-translatable driven gear with said third shaft.

2. in a radial drill, a speed controlling mechanism combining a power shaft; first, second and third driven shaftsl, 2 and 3 respectively; 1a spindle; serially arranged prilmary, secondaryand tertiary gear sets carried bysaid head and adapted to transmit to ond shaft 2, three of said five gears being compiemental to the three gears on the first shaft l; a two gear unit splined to the third shaft 3; one gear rotatably journaled on said third shaft 3 and maintained permanently in mesh with one of the gears on the second shaft 2; a clutch device between the last named gear and the two gear unit, the two gears of said unit being selectively engageable with two of the gears on the second shaft 2, one of the gears on the second shaft 2 serving both as a driven gear for the first gear set and as a driving gear for the second gear set.

3. A speed controlling mechanism for drill heads combining a power shaft; a first speed change mechanism comprising a second shaft l adapted to be driven from said power shaft; a gear-unit 10 splined to said second shaft and providing two gears a, b, of which one is also adapted to serve as a clutch element; a member 13 rotatably journaled coaxial with one of said shafts and providing a gear f and a clutch element e, the latter being adapted to be engaged by said combined gear and clutch element; a third shaft 2, three gears g, (Z, c splined to said third shaft of which one meshes with the gear on said member 13; means permitting the shifting of the gear-unit l0 selectively to mesh the gear Z; with the clutch element e and the gear (Z, and the gear a with the gear o to transmit three speeds to the shaft 2; a shaft 3; a second speed change gear mechanism connecting the shafts 2 and 3 for tripling the .1 three speeds produced in the first speed change mechanism; and a set of back-gears to multiply the nine speeds produced in the first and second speed change mechanisms.

t. in a machine tool, in combination; a spindle; a power shaft; first, second and third driven shafts, l, 2 and 3, arranged substantially in parallelism, the first being driven from the power shaft; a two-gear unit splined to the first shaft l; a single gear rotatably journaled co-aXial with the first shaft l; three driven gears 0, l and g fixed to the second shaft 2, one of said three gears being permanently in mesh with said single gear; means permitting the gears of the two-gear unit selectively to be meshed with two of the gears fixed to the second shaft 2 and means to clutch the single gear to the first shaft 1 selectively to give to the second shaft 2 rotation at increased or reduced rates from the first shaft l; a drive gear secured to the second shaft 2; a gear Z rotatably journaled coaxial with the third shaft 3 and permanently in mesh with the drive gear on the second shaft 2; a second drive gear secured to the second shaft 2; a gear unit splined to the third shaft 3 and affording a gear adapted to mesh with the second drive gear on the second shaft 2 and a gear adapted to mesh with one of the driven gears on the second shaft 2; means to clutch the rotatably journaled gear Z to the third shaft 3; and back-gear mechanism connecting the third shaft 3 with the spindle to multiply in the spindle the number of speeds transmitted to said third shaft 3.

5. In a machine tool, in combination; a power shaft; a spindle; first and second serially arranged speed change mechanisms receiving rotation from the power shaft and each providing speed increasing and speed f;-

reduciiig gearing, for varying the speed received from said power shaft; said speed change mechanisms comprising first, second and third shafts, two gears splined to the first shaft, a gear journaled co-axial with said first shaft, means to clutch the last named gear to the first shaft; five gears fixed to the second shaft two of which selectively may be meshed with two of the gears on the first drive shaft and one of which is permanently in mesh with the gear journaled coaxial with said first shaft, two gears splined to the third shaft and adapted selectively to be ineslied with two of the gears on the second shaft, a single gear rotatably journaled co-aXial with the third shaft and permanently meshing with one of the gears fixed to the second shaft, means to clutch the last named gear to the third shaft, and a speed increasing and reducing back-gear mechanism, connecting the third driven shaft with the spindle and adapted t-o multiply by four the speeds provided by the first and second speed change mechanisms.

In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.

HENRY M. NORRS. DAVID C. KLAUSMEYER. 

